
£°* 



$ « » - ^ 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



By A. L. CARTER. 





NEW YORK: 
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY, 
900 BROADWAY, COR. ?Oth 






COPYRIGHT, 1876, BY 

Anson D. F. Randolph & Co. 



ROBERT RUTTER, EDWARD O. JENKINS, 

BIXDEIi, PRINTER A XV STEREOTTP£g % 

?4 PEEKMAN STREET, N. Y. 20 NORTH WILLIAM ST., N. Y. 



PREFACE. 



The general desire, expressed at this particular 
period, by my pupils for a short and comprehensive 
view of American history during the past century, 
has led me to compile and arrange these " Centennial 

Notes," taken from such well known authorities as 
Dr. Lord, Spencer, Lossing, Goodrich, Higginson, 
Statesman's Year Book, and the United States Census. 
Whatever merit the selections may lack, their brevity 
will commend them to the many whose time will not 
permit a more careful examination of these authorities. 
Should the)' stimulate and create a desire in the 
mind of the reader to study the works of American 
historians, then my object will have been accom- 
plished. A. L. Carter. 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER. PAGB 

I. The grand event of the XVIII. Century ; The 
Causes of the American Revolution ; The 
great Colonial Congress ; The friends and 
enemies of America in the British Parliament, I 

II. The Battle of Lexington ; The Taking of Ticon- 
deroga; Washington Appointed Commander- 
in-Chief of the Army ; The Evacuation of 
Boston; The Declaration of Independence, 13 

III. Battle of Long Island; Battle of Trenton; Battle 
of Princeton ; Arrival of Lafayette in Amer- 
ica ; Origin and Adoption of the American 
Flag ; The Battle of Bennington ; The 
Battle of Saratoga and Surrender of Bur- 
goyne, 31 



V l CONTENTS. 

IV. The Army at Valley Forge ; The Conway Cabal ; 
The Treaty with France ; The Battle of 
Monmouth ; The Attack on Rhode Island ; 
The Campaign of 1779 ; The Naval Victory 
of John Paul Jones, - - - - - 46 

V. Campaign of 1780; Campaign of 1781 ; Events 
of 1782, to the close of the War, including 
the Siege of Yorktown, - - - - 59 

VI. The Result of the Revolution ; The Progress of 

the Country, ------ 68 



Centennial Notes. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE GRAND EVENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY— THE CAUSES OF THE 
REVOLUTION— THE GREAT COLONIAL CONGRESS — THE FRIENDS OF 
AMERICA IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. 

THE GRAND EVENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CEN- 
TURY. 

"The American revolution, in whatever light 
it may be viewed, was the grand event of the 
eighteenth century, and one of the most mo- 
mentous in its consequences, in the whole his- 
tory of society. It excited intense interest 
throughout the civilized world when it took 
place, and its effect has been constantly progress- 
ive. 

" It is memorable for the great deeds of heroes 
— for the development of unknown energies — 
for the establishment of a new empire — for the 
shock it gave to political power in Europe — for 
the impulse it communicated to the cause of 
liberty throughout the world — and for the hope 



2 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

it inspired among all depressed people of their 
own future triumph."* 

THE CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION. 

The celebrated " Navigation Act" of 1660, 
with the additional restrictions of 1663, was felt 
severely throughout the colonies, but particu- 
larly in commercial New England. It sought to 
keep the Americans dependent on the mother 
country, making England the only place where 
colonial products could be sent for a market, 
and whence the colonists should draw their sup- 
ply of foreign merchandise. 

The Americans strove to encourage manufac- 
ture within their own borders. Iron-works were 
established in Massachusetts, and the production 
of iron being so great in Pennsylvania, it was ex- 
ported to the other colonies. In 1750 the Ameri- 
cans were prohibited from sending pig-iron to 
England and from manufacturing steel and bar- 
iron for home use. 

Parliament prohibited, in 1732, the transporta- 
tion of American woolen goods from one colony 
to another, and hats, the making of which was 

* Lord. 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 3 

already a thriving business, were placed under 
the same restrictions as woolen goods. As an 
argument for this, it was asserted that from the 
abundance of beaver and other furs in America, 
the colonists, unless restrained, would soon sup- 
ply all the world with hats. 

The " Sugar Act" was passed in 1733, impos- 
ing a duty on rum, molasses, and sugar import- 
ed from foreign colonies into any of the British 
plantations. This was passed to protect the 
West India colonial productions at the expense 
of the North American colonies. 

The " Stamp Act," passed by Parliament in 

[765, imposed a duty on all paper, vellum, and 

parchment used in the colonies, and declared 

dl writings on unstamped materials to be null 

,, nul void. This act was repealed in 1766. 

The "Quartering Act" was still more irritat- 
ng to the Americans than the " Stamp Act." 
i standing army was ordered for the colonics, 
r nd the people, wherever these troops were sta- 
tioned, were required by this enactment to find 
quarters, fire-wood, bedding, drink, soap, and 
candles (<>v the soldi 



4 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

In June, 1767, a new bill was passed, to tax 
the colonies, in which tea, paints, paper, glass, 
and lead were made subject to duty. The co- 
lonial newspapers (twenty-five in number) were 
filled with stirring and patriotic articles. The 
non-importation agreement, which had for the 
time been forgotten, was again adopted in Bos- 
ton, Providence, New York, and Philadelphia. 
When the ships laden with tea arrived in Bos- 
ton, the citizens determined it should not be 
landed, and on the refusal of Gov. Hutchinson 
to allow the vessels to return to England, forty 
or fifty men, dressed as Indians, on the night of 
Dec. 16, 1773, boarded the vessels, and emptied, 
in two hours, three hundred and forty-two chests 
of tea. When the news of this reached Eng- 
land, Parliament immediately passed the "Bos- 
ton Port Bill," closing the harbor of the town, 
and moving the port of entry and seat of Gov- 
ernment to Salem. Boston was chiefly depend- 
ent on her commerce, and the destruction of her 
trade produced great distress among her people. 
The colonies immediately sent liberal contribu- 
tions to the citizens, and advised calling a con- 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 5 

gress to consider the grievances of the people, 
and declared that an attack upon one colony 
was an attack upon all.* 

THE GREAT COLONIAL CONGR] 
The " Great Congress" of the Revolution, 
composed of delegates from all the colonies, ex- 
cept Georgia, met at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774. 
Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, was chosen Presi- 
dent. It was composed of fifty-three delegates, 
all of whom were men of character and influ- 
ence. Among the more distinguished were Sam- 
uel and John Adams of Massachusetts; Sherman 
and Deane of Connecticut; Livingston and Jay of 
New York ; Henry, Washington, and Lee of Vir- 
ginia ; and the two Rutledges of South Carolina. 
" The most eminent men of the various colo- 
nics," says Mr. Wirt, writing from traditionary 
information, " were now, for the first time, 
brought together. They were known to each 
other by fame, but they were personally stran- 
The meeting was awfully solemn. The 
object which had called them together was of 
incalculable magnitude. The liberties o( no les ! 



6 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

than three millions of people, with that of all 
their posterity, was staked on the wisdom and 
energy of their counsels. No wonder, then, at 
the long, deep silence which is said to have fol- 
lowed upon their organization ; at the anxiety 
with which the members looked around upon 
each other ; and the reluctance which every in- 
dividual felt to open a business so fearfully mo- 
mentous. In the midst of this deep and death- 
like silence, and just when it was beginning to 
become painfully embarrassing, Mr. Henry arose 
slowly, as if borne down by the weight of the 
subject. After faltering, according to his habit, 
through a most impressive exordium, in which he 
merely echoed back the consciousness of every 
other heart, in deploring his inability to do justice 
to the occasion, he launched gradually into a re- 
cital of the colonial wrongs. Rising, as he ad- 
vanced, with the grandeur of his subject, and 
glowing, at length, with all the majesty and ex- 
pectation of the occasion, his speech seemed 

more than that of mortal man He sat down 

amidst murmurs of astonishment and applause ; 
and, as he had before been proclaimed the great- 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. y 

est orator of Virginia, he was now, on every hand, 
admitted to be the first orator of America."* 

The proceedings were conducted with closed 
doors. It was resolved that obedience was not 
due to any of the recent acts of Parliament, and 
that Massachusetts should be sustained in her 
resistance to what was universally considered un- 
just and unconstitutional. 

A declaration of colonial rights was voted, 
and in order to enforce the rights, it was agreed 
to hold no commercial intercourse with Great 
Britain and the West Indies, and to take every 
measure to encourage domestic manufactures. 

At the close of October, after a session of fifty- 
one days, Congress adjourned, after having pre- 
viously arranged to meet again May 10, 1775. 
Every subject was fully and fairly discussed, and 
the papers issued by this Congress have been 
pronounced masterpieces of profound political 
wisdom and truth. 

The eulogium of Lord Chatham on these 
State papers deserves to be quoted here : " When 
your lordships have perused the papers trans- 
* Wirt's " Life of Patrick Henry." 



8 C EX TEX XI A L XOTES. 

mitted to us from America, when you consider 
the dignity, the firmness, and the wisdom with 
which the Americans have acted, you cannot 
but respect their cause. History, my lords, has 
been my favorite study, and in the celebrated 
writings of antiquity, I have often admired the 
patriotism of Greece and Rome; but, my lords, 
I must declare and avow, that, in the master 
States of the world, I know not the people, nor 
the senate, who, in such a complication of diffi- 
cult circumstances, can stand in preference to the 
delegates of America assembled in general Con- 
gress at Philadelphia. I trust it is obvious to 
your lordships, that all attempts to impose ser- 
vitude upon such men, to establish despotism 
over such a mighty continental nation, must be 
in vain, must be futile." 

Of Washington's share in the debates we have 
no means of knowing, but there can be no doubt 
that he exercised a powerful influence ; for it is 
related that Patrick Henry, on being asked whom 
he thought the greatest man in Congress, re- 
plied, " If you speak of eloquence, Mr. Rutledge, 
of South Carolina, is by far the greatest orator ; 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. g 

but if you speak of solid information and sound 
judgment, Colonel Washington is unquestion- 
ably the greatest man on that floor."* 

THE FRIENDS OF AMERICA IN THE BRITISH 
PARLIAMENT. 

Great Britain received the report of the pro- 
ceedings of Congress, and the general state of 
insubordination throughout the colonies, with 
an)- feelings but those of indifference. 

The more experienced and profound of the 
British statesmen perceived the importance of 
the crisis. Lord Chatham besought the minis- 
ters to withdraw the troops from Boston, and re- 
voke the obnoxious acts. He spoke of the 
means thus far employed for enforcing obedience 
as inefficient and ridiculous. He panegyrized 
the American Congress and the American peo- 
ple. The Marquis of Rockingham and Lord 
Shelbourne supported his motion, and Lord 
Camden declared that England had no right to 
tax America. 

In the House of Commons, Mr. Burke, Mr. 
. and Col. l.arre proposed conciliatory meas- 



I0 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

ures ; Bollan, Franklin, and Lee also petitioned 
to be heard at the bar of the House of Com- 
mons, that they might explain the subject of 
their grievances, and communicate important 
information. 

At the beginning of February, 1775, Lord 
Chatham brought forward a bill for settling the 
troubles in the colonies, which he had shown to 
Dr. Franklin, before he submitted it to the 
House of Lords, but the latter had not an op- 
portunity of proposing certain alterations which 
he had sketched. Dr. Franklin, however, at the 
special request of Lord Chatham, was present at 
the debates upon it. Lord Dartmouth was at 
first disposed to have the bill lie upon the table ; 
but Lord Sandwich opposed its being received, 
and moved that it be immediately " rejected with 
the contempt it deserved. He could never 
believe/' he said, " that it was the production of 
a British peer; it appeared to him rather THE 
WORK OF SOME AMERICAN." Turning his face 
toward Dr. Franklin, then standing at the bar, 
" He fancied," he said, " he had in his eye the 
person who drew it up, one of the bitterest and 



CEN TENNIAL NO TES. 1 1 

most mischievous enemies this country had ever 
known." To this part of the speech of Lord 
Sandwich, the great Chatham replied, by saying, 
" that it was entirely his own." " This declara- 
tion," he said, " he thought himself the more 
obliged to make, as many of their lordships ap- 
peared to have so mean an opinion of it : for if 
it was so weak, or so bad a thing, it was proper 
in him to take care that no other person should 
unjustly share in the censure it deserved. It 
had been heretofore reckoned his vice not to be 
apt to take advice; but he made no scruple to 
declare, that if he were the first minister in this 
country, and had the care of settling this mo- 
mentous business, he should not be ashamed of 
publicly calling to his assistance a person so 
perfectly acquainted with the whole of .American 
affairs, as the gentleman alluded to, and so in- 
juriously reflected on; one whom all Europe 
held in estimation for his knowledge and wisdom, 
and ranked with our Boyles and Newtons; who 
was an honor, not to the English nation only, 
but to human nature."* 
* Pitkin's Civil ;m<] Political History of the I United S 



I2 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

On Lord North, as the great representative 
of the English mind, must rest the blame for not 
adopting measures for reconciliation. It was 
resolved to coerce the colonies, and they were 
declared to be in a state of rebellion. This was 
in fact a declaration of war, of no common war, 
but of desperate, deadly strife. It was so under- 
stood by the popular leaders of America. All 
classes felt that they must choose between 
slavery and freedom, and every one echoed the 
sentiment of Patrick Henry, " Give me liberty, 
or give me death ! " The moment that blood 
should actually be shed in the defence of liberty, 
that moment would prove the signal for a gen- 
eral rising of the people, and for the " Declara- 
tion of Independence." The town of Lexington, 
Mass., was the immortal spot where the first 
altar to perpetual liberty smoked with human 
sacrifice, where the fire of Revolution was 
kindled, which spread with the rapidity of 
lightning until the whole continent was in a 
blaze. ' :: " 

* Lord. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON, APRIL 19, 1775— THE TAKING OF TICONDE- 
ROGA, MAY IO, 1775— WASHINGTON APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF 
THE ARMY JUNB 15TH; TOOK COMMAND JULY 2D— THE EVACI 
OF HOSTON MARCH 17, 1776— THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 
JULY 4TH. 

THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 

GEN. GAGE, the royal governor, having learned 
that military stores were deposited at Concord, 
resolved to seize them, and despatched eight 
hundred troops under Col. Smith for that pur- 
pose. It had been agreed by the colonists that 
a special watch should be kept at Charlestown, 
and if at any time a large force was preparing 
to go out of Boston at night, a lamp should be 
hung out from the North Church by way of 
signal. One night the watchers on the Charles- 
town side the river saw the lantern gleaming in 
the steeple. Instantly all were in motion, and 
messengers went riding in all directions. Other 

(i ;) 



H 



CEXTEXXIAL X^TES. 



messengers had meanwhile been sent across in 
boats from Boston, and one of these, named 
Paul Revere, mounted a horse immediately after 
landing, and galloped out through Medford, to 
a house where the patriot leaders, John Hancock 
and John Adams, were sleeping. 

" Do not make so much noise," said the sol- 
dier on guard before the house. " Noise ! " said 
Paul Revere ; " you'll have noise enough before 
long. The regulars are coming out ! " And he 
galloped on from house to house, awakening all 
the principal farmers. 

.Meantime the British soldiers crossed over to 
East Cambridge. They moved silently along 
the marshes ; when suddenly the bells of the 
country towns began to ring, and it was plain 
that the alarm had been given. Paul Revere 
and the other scouts had done their work well. 
The commanding officer of the British sent back 
for more troops, and Major Pitcairn was sent 
forward with two or three hundred infantry. 
When Pitcairn passed through Lexington, at 
four o'clock in the morning, April 19, 1775, he 
found sixty or seventy militia collected on the 
green, commanded by Capt. John Parker. 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. i$ 

The British officer called upon them to lay 
down their arms, and disperse. The order was 
not obeyed, and the British fired. Only eight 
men were killed, but that was enough to arouse 
the whole nation. After this, the regulars 
marched on toward Concord. When they had 
destroyed all the military stores they could find, 
the)' prepared to return. But it was more diffi- 
cult to go back than to come. The guns and 
bells had roused the whole country round, and 
men came hurrying from all directions, without 
order or discipline, with guns in their hands, 
and ready to fire from behind stone walls and 
trees, so that men were constantly falling 
wounded or killed. The British suffered nearly 
three times as much as the Americans in killed, 
wounded, and missing.* 

The news of the battle of Lexington produced 
an immense sensation throughout the colonies. 
In a short time some 15,000 men were collected 
under various commanders. Gen. Ward com- 
manded those from Massachusetts, Gen. Stark 
e from New Hampshire, Gen. Greene those 

II:': [NSON. 



1 6 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

from Rhode Island, and Gens. Spencer and 
Putnam those from Connecticut. 

TAKING OF TICONDEROGA. 

In the first impulse of enthusiasm, Ethan 
Allen and Seth Warner raised a force among 
the Green Mountain boys, with a view to take 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which were 
defended at that time by only sixty men. 

As Allen approached Ticonderoga he was 
unexpectedly joined by Arnold. The fort was 
surprised about daybreak, and easily taken. A 
sentinel snapped his gun at them, and retreated 
to alarm his sleeping comrades. The American 
troops having followed their leaders, formed into 
two lines on the parade ground and gave three 
hearty cheers. Allen, attended by a guide, 
hurried to the room of the commandant, and 
knocking at his door, ordered his immediate 
appearance or the whole garrison should be put 
to death. The Captain hastened to the door, 
11 the frightened face of his pretty wife peering 
over his shoulder/' and gazing in bewildered 
astonishment at Allen, he exclaimed, " By whose 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. x j 

authority do you act ?" "In the name of the 
Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" 
replied Allen, with a flourish of his sword. 
There was no alternative but to surrender, and 
a large supply of military stores were found in 
the fortress. Crown Point surrendered the I2th 
of May, without firing a gun. Thus a partisan 
band, by a series of daring exploits, won for the 
patriots the command of Lake George and Lake 
Champlain, and threw open the great highway 
to Canada. 

WASHINGTON APPOINTED " COMMANDER-IN- 
CHIEF OF THE ARMY." 
Before the news of these successes could reach 
Congress, which reassembled at Philadelphia 
May 10, 1775, it had resolved itself into a Com- 
mittee of the Whole, to take into consideration 
the state of affairs consequent upon the battle 
of Lexington. The most important measure 
adopted by the Continental Congress was the 
appointment of a " Commander-in-chief." At 
the recommendation of the New England dele- 
», George Washington was unanimously 



jg CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

chosen, with four Major-Generals — Artemas 
Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Israel 
Putnam. It was thought best that the General- 
in-chief should not be from New England, be- 
cause it was wished that all the colonies should 
join in the war. Besides, there was no man in 
America who could claim to equal Washington 
in military reputation. 

John Adams, in his diary, claims the credit of 
bringing the members of Congress to a decision. 

The army was assembled at Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, under General Ward, and Con- 
gress was sitting at Philadelphia. Every day 
new applications in behalf of the army arrived. 
The country was urgent that Congress should 
legalize the raising of the army, as they had 
what must be considered, and was in law con- 
sidered, only a mob — a band of armed rebels. 
The country was placed in circumstances of 
peculiar difficulty and danger. The struggle 
had begun, yet everything was without order. 
The great trial now seemed to be in this question, 
Who shall be the Commander-in-chief? It was 
exceedingly important, and was felt to be the 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. \g 

hinge on which the contest might turn for or 
against us. The Southern and the Middle 
States, warm and rapid in their zeal, were for 
the most part jealous of New England, because 
they felt that the real physical force was then.-. 
What, then, was to be done? All New England 
adored General Ward. He had been in the 
French war, and went out laden with laurels. 
J [e was a scholar and a statesman. Every 
qualification seemed to centre in him; and it 
was confidently believed that the army could not 
receive any appointment over him. What, then, 
was to be done? Difficulties thickened at every 
step. The struggle was to be long and bloody. 
Without union all was lost. The country, and 
the whole country, must come in. One pulsation 
must beat through all hearts. The cause was 
one, and the arm}' must be one. The members 
had talked, debated, considered, and guessed, 
and yet the decisive step had not been taken. 
At length Mr. Adams came to his conclusion. 
The means of resolving it were somewhat singu- 
lar and nearly as follows: 1 le was walking one 
morning before Congress Hall, apparently in 



20 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

deep thought, when his cousin, Samuel Adams, 
came up to him and said, " What is the topic 
with you this morning?" 

" Oh, the army, the army," he replied. " I'm 
determined to go into the hall this morning and 
enter on a full detail of the state of the colonies, 
in order to show an absolute need of taking 
some decisive steps. My whole aim will be to 
induce Congress to appoint a day for adopting 
the army of these united colonies of North 
America, and then to hint at my election of a 
Commander-in-chief." 

"Well," said Samuel Adams, "I like that, 
cousin John ; but on whom have you fixed as 
that commander?" 

" I will tell you — George Washington, of Vir- 
ginia — a member of this house." 

" Oh," replied Samuel Adams, quickly, " that 
will never do — never." 

"It must do — it shall do," said John, "and 
for these reasons the Southern and Middle States 
are both to enter heartily into the cause, and 
their arguments are potent ; they say that New 
England holds the physical power in her hands, 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 21 

and they fear the result. A New England 
army, a New England commander, with New 
England perseverance, all united, appal them. 
For this cause they hang back. Now, the only 
course is to allay their fears, and give them 
nothing to complain of; and this can be done 
in no other way but by appointing a Southern 
chief over this force, and then all rush to the 
standard. The policy will blend us all in one 
mass, and that mass will be resistless." 

At this Samuel Adams seemed to be greatly 
moved. They talked over the preliminary cir- 
cumstances, and John asked his cousin to second 
the motion. 

Mr. Adams went in, took the floor, and put 
forth all his strength in the delineation he had 
prepared — all aiming at the adoption of the 
arm\'. He was ready to own the arm}', appoint 
a commander, vote supplies, and proceed to 
business. After his speech had been finished, 
-nine objected and some feared. His warmth 
increased with the occasion, and to all these 
doubts and hesitations he replied thus: 

"Gentlemen, if this Congress will not adopt 



2 2 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

this army before ten moons have set, New Eng- 
land will adopt it, and she will undertake the 
struggle alone ; yes, with a strong arm and a 
clear conscience, she will front the foe single- 
handed." 

This had the desired effect. They saw New 
England was neither playing, nor to be played 
with, and they agreed to appoint a day. A day 
was fixed ; it came. Mr. Adams went in, took 
the floor, urged the measure, and after some 
debate it passed. 

The next thing was to get a commander for 
this army, with supplies, etc. All looked to Mr. 
Adams on the occasion, and he was ready. He 
then took the floor and went into a minute de- 
lineation of the character of General Ward, 
bestowing on him the encomiums which then 
belonged to no one else. At the end of the 
eulogy, he said : " But this is not the man I have 
chosen." He then went into the delineation of 
the character of a commander-in-chief such as 
was required by the peculiar situation of the 
colonies at that juncture. And after he had 
presented the qualifications in his strongest 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 23 

language, and given the reasons for the nomi- 
nation he was about to make, he said : 

" Gentlemen, I know these qualifications are 
high, but we all know they are needful ; at this 
crisis, in this chief, does any one say they arc 
not to be obtained in this country? In reply, 
I have to say they are ; they reside in one of 
oup own body, and he is the person whom I now 
nominate — George Washington^ of Virginia." 

Washington, who sat on Mr. Adams' right 
hand, was looking him intently in the face, to 
catch the name he was about to announce, and, 
not expecting it would be his, sprang from his 
seat the moment he heard it, and rushed into 
an adjoining room. Mr. Adams had asked his 
cousin Samuel to ask for an adjournment, as 
soon as the nomination was made, in order to 
give the members time to deliberate, and the 
result is before the world. 

Before the arrangements previously alluded to 
were completed, was fought the battle of Bunker 
Hill, June 17, 1 775, which was productive 
great moral results. 



24 



CENTEXNIAL NOTES. 



BUNKER HILL. 



The British army, commanded by General 
Gage, was reinforced by a large body of regulars 
under Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, 
and the American force which blockaded the 
town numbered 16,000 men, commanded by 
General Ward. 

To complete the blockade, Col. Prescott was 
sent with 1,000 men to fortify Bunker's Hill, 
but by mistake advanced to Breed's Hill, nearer 
to Boston, and threw up intrenchments. 

When morning dawned, General Gage could 
scarcely believe his eyes on seeing the opposite 
hill fortified, and full of men, which had been 
done during the night. He called a counsel of 
war, and it was determined to carry the works 
by assault. About 3,000 picked British troops, 
under Generals Howe and Pigot, left Boston, and 
having landed, began to ascend the hill. The 
Americans remained quiet until the British 
were within 150 yards of the works, and then 
delivered their fire so steady and well directed 
that the enemy fell back in disorder to the foot 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 25 

of the hill. A second time they advanced, but 
with the same result. It was some time before 
they could be prepared for a third attack ; in 
the meantime they had been reinforced by 1,000 
fresh troops from Boston, under General Clinton. 
The powder of the Americans had begun to fail^ 
and the)- were forced to fight at the point of the 
bayonet. 

The provincials retreated slowly across the 
neck, and the hill remained in the hands of the 
British, but at a terrible sacrifice — they had lost 
1,000 in killed and wounded. It was complain- 
ed in England that none of their troops had 
ever returned so diminished in numbers from 
any battle. One regiment returned with only 
25 men, and it is said, "no history could pro- 
duce a parallel " to the courage that was shown 
that day bythe British, in advancing under such 
a murderous fire. The Americans lost 450 men, 
among whom was the brave General Warren — 
a loss which the British estimated worth 500 
men. 

The battle of Bunker Hill was of the greatest 
import. nice t«» the Colonies. First, it settled 



2 6 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

the question that there was to be a war. Second, 
it showed that inexperienced American soldiers 
could resist regular troops. 

About two weeks after the battle of Bunker 
1 1 ill, Washington joined the army, and fixed his 
headquarters at Cambridge. The camp was 
joined by companies of riflemen from Maryland, 
Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which, with all their 
forces, prevented the British from advancing 
into the country. 

The first movements of the American Con- 
gress and army were more vigorous than could 
have been expected from their deficiency in 
money and military stores. Nothing less than 
the conquest of Canada was contemplated. This 
task was entrusted to Generals Schuyler and 
Montgomery, with the co-operation of Arnold 
and Allen. The expedition proved unsuccess- 
ful, and Montgomery lost his life at the attack 
on Quebec. 

General Schuyler was prevented by sickness 
from joining the army. Arnold was wounded 
and Ethan Allen taken prisoner at the attack on 
Montreal, placed in irons and sent to England 



CENTENNIAL NO TES. 



27 



There, after enduring every species of hardship, 
was brought back to America and released after 
the victory of Saratoga (1778.) 

THE EVACUATION OF BOSTON. 

Meanwhile, Washington was waiting impa- 
tiently before Boston. His own wish had been 
to take active measures before this, but various 
circumstances prevented the accomplishment of 
his purposes. It was finally proposed by a 
counsel of war to force the British to evacuate 
Boston, by occupying the Heights of Dorches- 
ter, which commanded the entire city. All 
arrangements were soon made, and the Amer- 
icans proceeded in profound silence toward the 
peninsula of Dorchester. All succeeded per- 
fectly; they arrived upon the Heights, not only 
without being molested, but even without be- 
ing perceived by the enemy. They set to work 
with such activity, that when morning dawned, 
the English discovered, with extreme sur- 
prise, the new fortifications of the Americans. 
The English Admiral having examined them. 



28 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

declared that if the enemy was not dislodged 
from their position, his vessels could no longer 
remain in the harbor without the most immi- 
nent danger of destruction ; therefore, there was 
no other choice left them but to drive the col- 
onists from their position, or evacuate the city 
altogether. 

The English commander, Gen. Howe, had 
about decided upon an attack, when upon fur- 
ther consideration it was found that the advan- 
tages could not compensate the dangers; be- 
sides, the port of Boston was far from being per- 
fectly accommodated to the future operations 
of the army that was expected from England, 
and Gen. Howe himself had previously received 
instructions from Lord Dartmouth, one of the 
Secretaries of State, to evacuate the city and 
establish himself at New York. By a tacit agree- 
ment the British troops were unmolested in 
their retreat, and on the 27th of March Wash- 
ington entered Boston in triumph ; after a short 
sojourn, he hastened on to New York, both to 
defend that city and correspond more easily 
with Congress. 



CRN TEX N I A L NO J '£ S. 



2 9 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
For some time it was publicly discussed 
whether or not American Independence should 
be officially declared. The idea met with strong 
opposition in many of the colonies, but every 
day was gaining converts. On the 7th of June 
the subject was introduced into Congress by 
Richard Henry Lee, who moved, in obedience 
to instructions from Virginia, "That the United 
colonies are, and ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent States, and that their political connec- 
tion with Great Britain is, and ought to be, dis- 
solved." It was opposed by some of the great- 
est friends of liberty, and some of the ablest 
men in Congress, as premature, among whom 
were Dickinson, Rutlcdgc, and Livingston. The 
Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson, 
though a few verbal changes were made by 
.Adams and Franklin. There was a long discus- 
sion in Congress, and the Declaration was de- 
bated and criticised, and often severely at- 
tacked. John Adams was its most conspicuous 
ider. 



30 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

On the ever-memorable 4th of July, 1776, The 
Declaration of Independence was publicly pro- 
claimed from the door of the State House in 
Philadelphia, amid the ringing of bells, the firing 
of cannon, and shouts of universal rejoicing. 
Although the Declaration was adopted July 
4th, it was not until August 2d that it was 
signed by all the members of Congress, fifty-six 
in number. When the members came up to 
sign their names, Dr. Franklin was ready, as 
usual, with his cheerful wit ; John Hancock, who 
headed it, said to the others, " We must be 
unanimous — there must be no pulling different 
ways." " Yes," said Franklin, " we must all 
hang together, or else we shall all hang separ- 
ately." 



CHAPTER III. 

BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND, AUGUST 27, 1776— BATTLE OF TRENTON - , DEC. 26, 
1776— CAMPAIGN OF I777, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON, JAN. 
2, I777 — ARRIVAL OF LAFAYETTE IN APRIL 2', 1777, AT CHARLESTON, S. C. 
—ORIGIN AND ADOPTION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG BY CONGRESS, JUNK 
14, 1777— THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON, AUG. 16, 1777— THE BATTLE OF 
SARATOGA, OCT. 7, 1777— SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE, OCT. 17, 1777. 

THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 

A FEW days before the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, Gen. Howe landed on Staten Island, 
with the army which had retreated from Boston, 
and soon after was joined by his brother, Admi- 
ral Lord Howe, with large reinforcements from 
England. Sir Henry Clinton also returned from 
the South with 24,000 men, and nothing less 
than the complete subjugation of the country 
was anticipated. 

It was the design of the British to occupy 
New York and the Hudson, thus separating the 
Eastern from the Middle States. Washington 

CO 



32 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

endeavored to prevent this, if possible, by occu- 
pying New York with a superior force. 

Lord Howe and his brother were commis- 
sioned to treat for peace, but only on terms of 
absolute submission on the part cf the colonies, 
and in no manner whatever to acknowledge the 
authority of Congress. 

All negotiations having failed, the British army 
prepared for an immediate attack. Washington 
had expected the attack would be made by way 
of Long Island, and had already stationed a large 
body of troops under Generals Sullivan and Put- 
nam at Brooklyn. On the 22d of August a part 
of the British army crossed over to Long Island, 
and landed just below Fort Hamilton. On the 
night of the 26th, the British advanced in three 
divisions, and began the attack. A battle en- 
sued which lasted all the next day, and ceased 
only with the darkness of the night. The vic- 
tory for the British was complete. Washing- 
ton saw the destruction of his troops with the 
deepest anguish, and formed a plan for the sal- 
vation of the remainder of the army. Under 
cover of a heavy fog, at night, they crossed over 



CEN TEN.\ I A L NO TE S. 



33 



to New York in safety, and when the sunlight 
broke upon New York and Brooklyn, the last 
boat load of patriots had reached the city's 
shore. Gen. Howe, deeply mortified at the 
escape of his prey, prepared to make an imme- 
diate attack on New York, and Washington was 
obliged to retreat gradually through New York 
and New Jersey. The Americans were in a pitia- 
ble condition, many of them having neither shoes 
nor decent clothing, half-famished, and without 
tents to shelter them from the cold winter air. 
It now seemed particularly desirable that Wash- 
ington should strike some daring blow. The 
public mind was filled with despondency, and 
as Philadelphia was in danger of being the seat 
of war, Congress had adjourned to Baltimore. 

1 HE BATTLE OF TRENTON. 

After crossing the Delaware into Pennsylvania, 

a large reinforcement, consisting of 1,500 men, be- 
sides a number of militia, was received, and Wash- 
on now had with him an army of about 
7,000 men. The British army was at Trenton ; 



34 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

Christmas was at hand, a day when Germans 
especially indulge in convivial pleasures, and 
Washington resolved to fall upon them sudden- 
ly, while they were in slumber, after a day and 
night spent in carousing. 

On the night of the 25th of December, the 
army, in three divisions, attempted to cross the 
Delaware, in as many different places. It was 
not only cold, but dark and stormy. The river 
was crowded with broken ice, rushing together 
and sweeping down its current. The division 
commanded by Washington was the only one 
which succeeded in passing over, and at eight in 
the morning was before Trenton. They attacked 
first a body of Hessians, who, after a deter- 
mined resistance, surrendered. About 1,000 pris- 
oners fell into the hands of the Americans, 
besides cannon, arms, and ammunition. Gen. 
Rahl, the commander of the Hessians, fell mor- 
tally wounded in the streets of Trenton. Think- 
ing it imprudent to remain on the Jersey shore, 
Washington, with his prisoners and booty, re- 
crossed the Delaware on the evening of the 
same day, but soon after returned to Trenton 






CENTENNIAL AZOTES. 31J 

and established his army there. This brilliant 
achievement roused the spirit of our army, and 
kindled anew the flagging hopes of the country. 
When the Commander-in-chief, with his shiv- 
ering, half-starved troops, fled across the Dela- 
ware, the British judged the rebellion at an end, 
and the American army annihilated. Cornwall is 
had returned to New York to embark for Eng- 
land, but when intelligence of the victory at 
Trenton reached Lord Howe, he ordered Corn- 
wall is back with reinforcements to gain the ad- 
vantage lost. 

THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON. 

The Americans soon discovered that the Brit- 
ish were concentrating their forces at Princeton, 
and preparing for battle. Toward the evening 
of the 2d of January, 1777, Cornwallis, with a 
strong force, approached Trenton, and made re- 
peated attempts to cross the stream which runs 
through the town, but was as often repulsed by 
the artillery of the Americans. The situation 
1 f Washington was most critical. An over- 
Iming force was approaching in front ; in the 



36 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

rear, the Delaware becoming more obstructed 
by floating ice, rendered a retreat almost impos- 
sible. An escape under cover of night was the 
only chance of safety. Leaving a few men to 
keep the watch-fires burning, to allay the suspi- 
cions of the enemy, Washington silently with- 
drew all his army and artillery, and at dawn was 
in sight of Princeton ; here he was met by some 
British regiments on the march, and one of the 
hottest battles ensued that was fought during 
the war. At last, victory was declared in favor 
of the Americans, but it was dearly bought. 
Gen. Mercer and several other valuable officers 
were among the slain. Washington, in his usual 
prudent manner, immediately retired toward 
Morristown, where he took up his quarters for 
the Winter. 

During the Spring of 1777 the British com- 
mander in New York employed all his time in 
sending expeditions up the Hudson and into 
Connecticut, to seize the military stores of the 
Americans. They'marched through the country 
with all possible speed, and either destroyed or 
carried away everything that was to be found. 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 37 

Meanwhile the American army was daily gain- 
ing strength by new recruits, and at length 
amounted to about 15,000 men. 

ARRIVAL OF LAFAYETTE AND OTHER DISTIN- 
GUISHED FOREIGNERS. 

Principally through the efforts of the Amer- 
ican Commissioners in France, a large number 
of foreign military officers offered their services 
to Congress. Among these officers who after- 
ward became well known, were the famous 
Kosciusko and Count Pulaski, two young Polish 
officers and patriots; Conway, an Irishman by 
birth, but thirty years an officer in the French 
army, and after entering the American service, 
one of the most unprincipled of Washington's 
enemies; the Marquis de Lafayette ; Baron de 
Kalb; and Baron Steuben, a Prussian General 
trained under Frederick the Great, who did 
great service to the American army in perfect- 
ing its discipline. 

Lafayette was a young nobleman, less than 
twenty years of age, and when he first heard of 
the struggle of the American-, their Declaration 



38 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

of Independence, and the efforts made to crush 
them, he was dining with the Duke of Glou- 
cester, brother of George III., and some French 
noblemen, in the old town of Mentz, Germany. 
His soul was fired with enthusiasm for liberty, 
and quitting the French army, he hastened to 
Paris to offer his services to Silas Deane, the 
American Commissioner at that time in France. 
His offer was accepted, and the rank of Major- 
General promised him. which Congress con- 
firmed on his arrival in Philadelphia. Although 
he had just married a young and beautiful girl, 
was heir to an immense fortune, and had bril- 
liant prospects at the French Court, he left all, 
and hastened to America in a vessel fitted out 
at his own expense. Here he fought gallantly 
in the cause of freedom, and his name will for- 
ever be linked with that of Washington and 
Liberty. 

THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE. 

About the time of the arrival of these distin- 
guished allies, news was received that General 
Burgoyne was approaching from Canada, and it 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 39 

was judged that Lord Howe would move up 
the Hudson with his army to meet him, instead 
of making his long-threatened attack upon Phila- 
delphia. Washington, who watched carefully 
every movement of the enemy, soon discovered 
the arrival of the British fleet in the Chesapeake 
Bay, where, after landing, 16,000 men marched 
rapidly toward Philadelphia. They were met 
by the Americans at Brandywine Creek, where 
a severe battle ensued, which lasted nearly all 
day. The Americans were defeated with great 
loss, and after various efforts to repulse the 
enemy. Philadelphia was finally abandoned to 
the British; the Americans repaired to a strong 
position on the Schuylkill, about twenty miles 
above the city. On the evening of the iSth of 
September, Congress left Philadelphia for a 
second time, and proceeded first to Lancaster, 
and afterward to York, where it remained until 
Philadelphia was evacuated by the British. 

ADI OPTION I >F THE AMERICAN FLAG. 

During the past session ofCongrCSS a national 
flag had been adopted, as, the United States 



40 



CEXTEXNIA L NO TES. 



being now an independent nation, it was time 
that it should have a flag of its own. 

The official origin of the grand Union flag is 
involved in obscurity. The colors of the stripes 
may have been suggested by the red flag of 
the army, and the white one of the navy, pre- 
viously in use. These thirteen stripes are 
supposed to have been used first on a banner 
presented in 1774 or 1775 to the Philadelphia 
Light Horse Troop, by Capt. Abraham Markoe. 
At the time of its adoption at Cambridge (Jan. 
2, 1776), the colonies still acknowledged the 
legal right of the mother country, and therefore 
retained the blended cross of St. George and 
St. Andrew. After the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence the emblems of British union became 
inappropriate, but they were retained until the 
following year. 

Congress resolved, June 14, 1777, that the 
flag of the United States be thirteen stripes^ 
alternate red and white ; that the Union be 
thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing 
a new constellation. This is the first recorded 
legislative action for the adoption of a new flag. 



CEN TEN A r IAL NOT. 4 1 

It is supposed that the flag was first unfurled 
by John Paul Jones, on the " Ranger." It is said 
to have been made and given him by some 
patriotic ladies in Philadelphia, and that he 
procured a small boat and sailed up and down 
the Schuylkill, to show to the assembled people 
what their national ensign was to be. 

BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 
While Washington was engaged, as we have 
related, in endeavoring to maintain the cause 
of liberty in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the 
Northern campaign was carried on with vigor 
and brilliant success. Gen. Burgoyne, an am- 
bitious, enterprising man, had succeeded in 
obtaining the command of the British forces in 
Canada, and had already a great number of 
Canadians and Indians joined to his regular 
force. He advanced toward Crown Point and 
Ticonderoga, which were easily taken, as the 
greater part <>f the American forces were with 

Commander-in-chief in New Jersey. 
Schuyler, who had command at Port Edward, 
had greatly annoyed the British on their ap- 



4 2 CEXTEXNIAL NOTES. 

proach, by felling trees and destroying bridges ; 
but finding them too strong for him, he was 
obliged to retreat across the Hudson to Saratoga. 
While at Fort Edward, Gen. Burgoyne heard 
that a considerable quantity of military stores 
and provisions were deposited at Bennington. 
With a view to secure them, Col. Baum, a brave 
German officer, was sent out with five hundred 
troops and one hundred Indians. A party of 
New Hampshire militia, under Col. Stark, had 
lately arrived in Bennington, and hearing of 
Baum's approach, Stark sent immediately for 
all the militia and forces in the neighborhood. 
Baum hearing of these preparations to meet 
him, intrenched himself six miles from Ben- 
nington, and sent to Burgoyne for reinforce- 
ments ; but before these could arrive, Stark 
attacked him, August 16th. 

The day was bright and sunny, and early in 
the morning Stark sent forward two columns to 
storm the intrcnchments at different points. 
When the firing commenced, he threw himself 
on his horse and advanced with the main body 
o( his troops. As soon as the enemy's columns 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 43 

were seen forming on the hill-side, he exclaimed, 
" See, men! there arc the red coats! We must 
beat to-day, or Molly Stark's a widow! " The 
militia replied to this appeal with a tremendous 
shout. The battle which followed lasted two 
hours, and was one of the hottest fought during 
the war. The Indians ran off at the beginning 
of the battle; the Tories were driven across 
the river; and although the Germans fought 
bravely, they were compelled to fly, leaving 
their artillery and baggage on the field. Scarcely 
were the intrenchments carried, and the enemy 
dispersed, before the reinforcements arrived. 
The battle was renewed, and gained by the 
Americans. Stark was made a Brigadier in the 
army for his bravery that day.* 

THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA. 

On the news of this defeat, Burgoyne was in 

it perplexity. To retreat, advance, or remain 

inactive, seemed equally perilous. With little 

hope of reaching Albany, where he had proudly 

boasted In- would eat his Christmas dinner, he 



44 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



crossed over the Hudson, and formed a fortified 
camp on the hills and plains of Saratoga. 

Loud complaints having been made against 
Gen. Schuyler for the conduct of the campaign, 
Congress took a step which was as ungracious 
as it was unjust toward one of the bravest and 
most patriotic officers in the American army. 
He was removed from his command just when 
he was about to reap the reward of his labors, 
and Gen. Horatio Gates was appointed in his 
place. Schuyler felt acutely the disgrace of 
being displaced at this critical moment, but 
rising superior to all personal considerations, he 
received Gates with that high-toned courtesy 
peculiar to gentlemen of the old school, and 
said to him, " I have done all that could be done, 
as far as the means were in my power, to inspire 
confidence in our own soldiers, and, I flatter 
myself, with some success ; but the palm of 
victory is denied me, and it is left to you, 
General, to reap the fruits of my labors. I will 
not fail, however, to second your views, and my 
devotion to my country will cause me with 
alacrity to obey all your orders." 



CI:. \ • 7 ENNIA L NO 7 '/•; s. 



45 



Soon after Gates had entered upon the com- 
mand, he advanced to Bemis Heights, a little 
above Stillwater, not far from Burgoyne. On 
the 19th of September an alarm sounded that 
the British were advancing, and a spirited en- 
gagement followed, without any decided result. 
Two weeks of inactivity followed the battle, 
during which the two armies were within cannon 
shot of each other. Burgoyne had intended to 
await the arrival of reinforcements under Gen. 
Clinton ; but hearing nothing from him, he pre- 
pared for another attack upon the Americans. 
He again advanced, and after a severe battle of 
several hours, was compelled to fall back to the 
heights of Saratoga, and leave the patriots in 
possession of the field. Ten days after, finding 
only three days' provisions in the camp, he was 
obliged to surrender his whole army prisoners 
of war. This was a glorious victory to the 
Americans. It gave them a vast amount of 
munitions of war, but its moral effect was of 
greater importance. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE ARMY AT VALLEY FORGE DURING THE WINTER OF 1777 AND 1778— THE 

WAY CABAL, 1777 AND 1778— THE TREATY WITH FRANCE, FEB. 6, 1778 

— THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH, JUNE 28, 1778— THE ATTACK ON RHODE 

ISLAND, AUG., 1778 — THE CAMPAIGN OF I779, INCLUDING THE CAPTURE OF 

\Y POINT, JULY 16, I779— THE NAVAL BATTLE WON BY JOHN PAUL 

JONES, SEPT. 

THE ARMY AT VALLEY FORGE. 

" In the bosom of a rugged gorge, on the 
banks of the Schuylkill, twenty miles north- 
west of Philadelphia, the American army en- 
camped during the severe Winter of 1777 and 
1778." Washington had moved up to this posi- 
tion, that he might the more easily afford pro- 
tection to Congress, at York, and his stores at 
Reading. The events of the encampment at 
Valley Forge afford some of the gloomiest, as 
well as some of the most brilliant scenes, in the 
records of American patriotism. It is impossi- 
ble to express in words the intense suffering 
which the army was called upon to endure, and 
(46) 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 47 

the almost superhuman firmness with which it 
was endured. Numbers of these brave soldiers 
had scarcely sufficient clothing to cover them ; 
many were compelled to go barefoot over the 
snow, and few, if any, had blankets for the night. 
Half-fed and scantily-clothed, great numbers 
sickened and died, and others, unfitted for serv- 
ice by the cold, and want of sufficient clothing, 
were excused from military duty. Had Howe 
possessed enterprise enough to attack the patriot 
army at this time, disastrous must have been 
the consequences. Out of eleven or twelve 
thousand men in camp, it would have been diffi- 
cult to muster five thousand fit for duty. It 
may be well believed that Washington was filled 
with anguish at the calamities of the army, and 
spared no exertions to improve its condition, in 
urging upon Congress the necessity of sending 
them assistance. lie was authorized to seize 
provisions wherever he could, and give bills on 
Congress for the amount. This was a harsh 
measure, but in some degree improved the 
condition of the army. 



4 8 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

THE CONWAY CABAL. 

During the Winter occurred the famous plot 
known as the Conway Cabal. It would seem 
that Washington had a sufficiently heavy bur- 
den on his shoulders, in the harassing cares and 
anxieties of his position, and that he might have 
been spared from trials of a personal nature to 
which he was exposed at this time. Thus far, 
apparently little else than ill success had at- 
tended the military exploits of the Commander- 
in-chief. He had been compelled to retreat 
continually before a powerful enemy. New 
York and Philadelphia had been lost, and there 
was almost nothing of a brilliant or striking 
character in what had transpired during the 
war, under Washington's immediate direction. 
On the other hand, the victory at Saratoga 
had thrown a lustre around the name of Gates 
which far outshone, for the time, the solid and 
enduring light of Washington's noble and pa- 
triotic devotion to his country. It was the 
first great victory of the war, and it was a 
victory which had a most important effect upon 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 49 

the future prospects of the United States. No 
wonder, then, that restless and envious men 
should make invidious comparisons between 
the hero of Saratoga and the Commander-in- 
chief. A direct and systematic attempt was 
made to ruin the military reputation of Wash- 
ington by charging him with want of energy 
and success. Generals Gates and Mifflin of the 
army, Samuel Adams and others in Congress, 
had more or less to do with the matter. Gates 
and Mifflin had taken offence at something, 
and Conway, a restless, boasting, and intriguing 
character, was disappointed in not receiving 
the appointment of Inspector-General. Samuel 
Adams and some of the New England members 
do not seem ever to have cordially liked Wash- 
ington's appointment to the Commander-in- 
chief of the army, and now, when the capture 
of Burgoyne had been effected by the Northern 
army, without the intervention of Washington, 
the malcontents assumed a bolder attitude. 
Anonymous letters were freely circulated, at- 
tributing the ill success of the Americans to 
the incapacity or vacillating policy of Wash- 



50 CEXTEXXIAL NOTES. 

ington, and filled with insinuations and com- 
plaints against him. In this way they thought 
to compel him to resign, and then elevate Gates 
to the command of the army. The plotting was 
very active and malignant while it continued, 
but Washington held too firm a place in the 
confidence of the people and the army to be 
easily shaken from it. The country was aroused, 
his enemies baffled, and his popularity rose to a 
greater height than ever. 

TREATY WITH FRANCE. 

The victory at Saratoga weighed mightily, in 
favor of the Americans, at the Court of France. 
Unaided by any foreign power they had de- 
feated and captured a well-trained army of 
about six thousand men. France greatly re- 
joiced at the embarrassments of England, and 
had thought it inexpedient to assist the colonies 
openly, until there was some chance of their 
success; yet arms, ammunition, and money 
were secretly provided for a long time previous 
to the treaty. On Feb. 6, 1778, the alliance 
with America was publicly acknowledged ; 



CEN TENNIA L NO TJ-1 S. 5 1 

France having agreed with the American Com- 
missioners on two treaties: one of friendship 
and commerce, the other of defensive alliance, 
in case Great Britain should declare war against 
France; and no peace was to be made, without 
mutual consent, until the independence of the 
United States had been acknowledged by Eng- 
land. 

The English Ministry felt the necessity of 
offering terms to the Americans, and accord- 
ingly sent five Commissioners, with full powers, 
to treat with the colonies for the restoration of 
English authority. On their arrival in America, 
Congress declined to treat with them unless the 
independence of the colonies was first recog- 
nized and the fleets and armies withdrawn. 
The Commissioners failing in their negotiations 
with Congress, returned to England, and the 
war continued. 

Till' BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. 

The first movement of the French Govern- 
ment, in compliance with the requirements <>( 
the treaty with America, was to despatch a 



52 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

squadron, under Count d'Estaing, to blockade 
the British fleet in the Delaware. Sir Henry 
Clinton received orders to evacuate Philadelphia 
and the Delaware and concentrate his forces in 
New York. He immediately made preparations 
to commence his march through New Jersey. 
On the 28th of June, 1778, when he had ad- 
vanced as far as Monmouth (the present village 
of Freehold), he found himself attacked by the 
American army under Generals Charles Lee, 
Greene, Lafayette, and Washington himself. "It 
was Sabbath morning, and one of the most sultry 
days ever known, when the two armies met in 
conflict. From nine o'clock in the forenoon till 
dark on that long Summer day, the terrible con- 
test raged. It was commenced by the advanced 
division of the American army under General 
Lee. His apparent want of courage or skill 
produced a general and tumultuous retreat of 
his division. The fugitives were met by the 
main body under Washington, and being speed- 
ily checked and restored to order by the Com- 
mander-in-chief, they were led to action and 
the battle became general. Many fell under 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 53 

the excessive heat of the clay, and when night 
came, both parties were glad to rest." The 
Americans slept on their arms during the night, 
with the intention of renewing the battle at 
dawn ; but when morning came, the British 
camp was deserted ; Clinton was far on his way 
toward Sandy Hook, where he met the British 
fleet, and proceeded to New York. The Royal 
army made that city their headquarters till the 
close of the war. Washington marched to the 
Hudson River, thence to White Plains, where 
he remained till Autumn. General Lee was 
very much censured by Washington for his con- 
duct at Monmouth, not only at the time, but 
afterwards ; he was tried by court martial, found 
guilty of disobeying orders, misbehaving before 
the enemy, and treating the Commander-in- 
chief with disrespect. His sentence was sus- 
pension from the army for a year. Shortly 
after the expiration of the period of his sentence 
he addressed a hasty and insolent letter to Con- 
gress, and for this his name was promptly or- 
dered to be struck from the roll of the army. 



54 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



THE ATTACK ON RHODE ISLAND. 



When d'Estaing with the French squadron 
appeared off Sandy Hook, the British fleet was 
safe in Raritan Bay. D'Estaing therefore relin- 
quished his plan of attacking Lord Howe, and 
on the solicitation of Washington, he proceeded 
to Newport, to assist the Americans to drive 
out the British from Rhode Island. On the 
29th of July, 1778, the fleet arrived in Narra- 
gansett Bay, and on the 8th of August entered 
the harbor. This delay proved fatal to the 
enterprise, for it gave the brave and active 
Lord Howe time to appear off the harbor of 
Newport. D'Estaing immediately sailed out to 
give him battle, but before the ships could en- 
gage, a terrible storm scattered and disabled 
both fleets. The loss of the assistance of the 
French was a great disappointment to the 
Americans, who found it necessary to retreat 
from the Island during the night. It was 
undoubtedly a lucky escape, for Sir Henry Clin- 
ton arrived next day with four thousand men, 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 55 

and a longer stay on the Island would probably 
have proved fatal. 

Nothing more of importance marked the cam- 
paign, which gave satisfaction to neither of the 
contending parties. The English were the more 
successful in the few actions which took place. 
The Americans had recovered Philadelphia, 
while the British had gained a foothold in 
Georgia. 

The American cause was still laboring under 
great difficulties. Congress had very little spe- 
cie, and had issued so much paper money that 
it had become nearly worthless. Everything 
must have gone to ruin if it had not been for 
the exertions of Robert Morris, a Member of 
Congress from Philadelphia, in which city he 
was a leading merchant. He borrowed large 
sums of money and lent them to the Govern- 
ment. This he continued to do till the close of 
th<.' war. Notwithstanding all this, the army 
were still heavy sufferers, not only for the want 
of their pay, but for the necessaries of life.'"' 

* Scott. 



56 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 1 779. 

The dawn of 1779 was gloomy with evil fore- 
bodings for the patriot cause. The principal 
military operations of the year were carried on 
in the two extreme sections of the Confederacy. 
Gen. Prevost assumed the chief command of the 
British forces at Savannah, and Gen. Lincoln 
was appointed to the command of the American 
army in the South. 

One of the most important events of this year 
was the capture of Stony Point, on the Hudson, 
July 16, 1779. The fort stood upon a high, 
rocky promontory, surrounded by a deep swamp 
covered with water. At midnight the troops 
commanded by Gen. Wayne marched through 
this morass, in the face of a heavy cannonade 
from the aroused garrison ; still the Americans 
were not allowed to fire a gun. The success 
was complete ; the fort was taken at the point 
of the bayonet, and its surviving defenders all 
made prisoners. Gen. Wayne was among the 
wounded. As he was entering the fort he was 
struck by a musket ball ; he fell, but rose upon 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 57 

one knee, and said, " Forward, my brave fellow s, 
forward ! " then in a low voice he said to one of 
his aids, "Assist me; if I die, I will die in the 
fort." Fortunately the wound proved less se- 
vere than was at first supposed. The spoils of 
this success was a large amount of military 
stores. 

The naval operations during the war for In- 
dependence do not occupy a conspicuous place 
in history, yet they were by no means insig- 
nificant ; and this year was marked by one of 
the most desperate naval battles ever known. 

John Paul Jones, a Scotchman by birth, but 
an American by adoption, and commissioned 
officer in the Navy, was cruising near the British 
coast in September, in command of a small 
squadron of three ships, fitted out in France, 
and fell in with two powerful English frigates, 
convoying a number of merchant vessels to the 
Baltic Sea. The battle began at seven in the 
evening, and lasted for three hours. Jones 
managed to lash his flagship, the " Bon Homme 
Richard," to the British ship " Serapis," and 
with muzzle to muzzle they poured broadsides 



58 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

into each other. Three times both ships were 
on fire. Finally the "Serapis" surrendered, 
and ten minutes after, the other frigate did the 
same. Jones' ship was so injured that she 
sunk the next day. Many other brave acts 
were performed by American seamen during 
the war. 



CHAPTER V. 

TUB CAMPAIGN OF 1780— THE CAMPAIGN OF 1781, INCLUDING THE SIEGE OF 
YORKTOWN— EVENTS OF 1782 TO THE CLOSE OF THE WAR. 

1 Hi; ( AMPAIGN OF 178O. 

The Winter of 17 79-' 80 was the most severe 
ever known in the country. The main body of 
the American army was scattered among the 
hills around Morristown. Gen. Clinton having 
determined to make the South the principal 
theatre of the war, sailed with the main body of 
his army, and landed about thirty miles below 
Charleston. The approach of the British was so 
sh»w and cautious, that Lincoln, the American 
ral, had time to strengthen his works, and 
add to his garrison a number of militia from the 
ounding country. The enemy soon attacked 
Charleston with vigor, and the situation of the 
Americans became every day more and more 

(59) 



(5 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

distressing, till at length the garrison surren- 
dered, and General Lincoln and a large body of 
troops became prisoners of war. After the sur- 
render, Clinton sent off three expeditions to 
subjugate South Carolina. The whole State 
was brought so completely under British rule, 
that Clinton set sail in the early part of June 
for New York, leaving Cornwallis to secure its 
conquest. The Carolinas abounded in Tories, 
who now joined the British forces in large num- 
bers. On the other hand, there were bands of 
American patriots in those States, called partisan 
corps, who were very active, such as Marion, 
Sumter, and Pickens. 

In view of the distress of the Southern States, 
Gen. Gates was despatched with a large force 
for their relief. On the 6th of August he unex- 
pectedly met Cornwallis near Camden, and a 
short and violent battle was fought, which 
ended in a disorderly retreat of the Americans. 
To sum up the disasters of the American cause, 
the brave Gen. Sumter was surprised by Tarle- 
ton at Fisher's Creek, and nearly the whole 
of his troops destroyed ; he himself escaped 



CENTENNIAL NOVAS. 6 1 

with difficulty. The South was at the mercy of 
the British. Gates lost all his fame, and was 
superseded by Greene. 

- The campaign of 1 780 was the most calamitous 
of any of the war. During this year the military 
operations were nearly suspended at the North. 
The three Southern States were incapable of 
helping themselves, and those at the North 
were penniless. To add to these calamities, 
Gen. Arnold proved a traitor, and came near 
betraying West Point into the hands of the 
enemy. The loss of that military post would 
have proved irreparable to the country. It 
would have given the British the command of 
the Hudson, thus separating the Middle from 
the Eastern States. 

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1 78 1. 
The campaign of 178 1 was virtually the last 
of the war. It was commenced by the ravages 
of Arnold in Virginia, who, at the head of a 
number of men, principally Tories, ascended 
the James Riveras far as Richmond, and burned 
many public and private buildings. A plan 



62 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

was laid by Washington for his capture, but the 
English General, apprised of this project, sent 
a large detachment to his assistance, under Gen. 
Philips, and Arnold returned to New York. 

In another section, further south, hostilities 
were carried on early in the season. Greene 
commanded the Americans, and Lord Cornwal- 
lis the British forces. Nothing could be more 
destructive and harassing than this warfare in 
the Southern States. One army was in con- 
stant pursuit of the other, and both armies 
could only subsist by levying contributions, as 
injurious to friends as to enemies. The result 
of the campaign in the Carolinas gave great sat- 
isfaction to Washington and Congress. With 
limited means, and under the most trying diffi- 
culties, Gen. Greene had repeatedly fought the 
enemy, and although he had never gained a de- 
cisive victory, yet even when defeated, he ob- 
tained to a considerable extent the object for 
which he fought. In the end, he was able to 
wrest South Carolina from the British, and re- 
store that State to the American Union. 

Little was done at the North during the year 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 63 

1 78 1 . In the Spring the Pennsylvania troops, 
to the number of thirteen hundred, revolted, 
and left the camp for the want of pay. It was 
found on examination that their complaints 
were well founded. Their claims being met, the 
rebellion ceased. 

During the Summer, Washington had been 
hoping, with the aid of the French fleet and 
army, t 1 make a combined attack on New York, 
but he was unable to bring it about. He then 
turned his attention to Cornwallis, who had 
stationed his army at Yorktown, Virginia, that 
lie might the more easily move to the assistance 
of Clinton, if an attack should be made on New 
York. The plan was to blockade the Chesa- 
peake with the fleet, and at the same time in- 
vest Yorktown with the army. Washington, 
who was in the neighborhood of New York, 
moved with so much caution, and so completely 
deceived Clinton as to his intentions, that before 
the British General understood his plans, the 
army was well on its way to Virginia. "As the 
American troops passed through Philadelphia 
the middle of August, uncertain as to their des- 



6a. centennial notes. 

tination, they evinced great dissatisfaction. 
Washington was enabled to pacify them by a 
partial discharge of their arrears, in consequence 
of the timely arrival of Laurens from France 
with half a million of dollars, besides arms and 
ammunition. Rochambeau had also advanced 
twenty thousand dollars from the French military 
chest. Had it not been for this supply, the 
expedition might have failed, for American 
credit was then at its lowest point of depression, 
and the old continental bills were worth next to 
nothing, one dollar in specie would purchase one 
thousand in bills, so extreme was the deprecia- 
tion, so low the credit of the nation." 

SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 

On the 28th of September, the allied army 
encamped before Yorktown, and the French 
fleet blockaded the Chesapeake. The British 
force numbered about eight thousand men. 
Cornwallis was hemmed in on all sides by supe- 
rior forces. Works were soon thrown up, and 
on the 9th of October the bombardment began. 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 65 

Two advanced redoubts of the British were 
taken, additional batteries were erected by the 
allies, and the ramparts of the enemy crumbled 
beneath the destructive fire. On the iGth, Corn- 
wailis saw that the place could hold out but 
a short time longer, and the next night he de- 
termined on the desperate plan of crossing over 
to Gloucester Point, then forcing his way through 
the troops stationed there, and to push on to 
New York by rapid marches. The plan was 
abandoned in consequence of a storm, which 
drove the boats down the river. Nothing could 
be done but to capitulate, and on the 19th, Corn- 
wallis surrendered his entire army prisoners of 
war. The shipping was given to the French. 
The news of the surrender of Cornwallis was re- 
ceived with great rejoicing throughout the coun- 
try. Everywhere it was felt that this must end 
the war. In England the news produced great 
astonishment and mortification. Sensible men 
saw that any further struggle to keep pos- 
session of the American colonies must be use- 
less; but the English King, and the Parliament 
which met in November, still showed a deter- 
mined and warlike spirit. 



56 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

EVENTS OF 1782. 

The year of 1782 was most marked by nego- 
tiations for peace, and the strategy of diplo- 
matists. In the month of March, the House of 
Commons voted to end the war, and on the 
20th, a new minister (Lord Rockingham), in 
favor of peace, came into office. Finally, George 
III. yielded, and orders were sent to the British 
generals to stop fighting. Negotiations for 
peace were then opened in earnest, and Richard 
( Oswald, a British merchant, was sent to Paris to 
confer with Franklin. Nothing less than the 
acknowledgment of independence, a satisfactory 
boundary, and a participation in the fisheries, 
would suit the Americans. These terms were 
accepted as the basis of a treaty. John Adams, 
John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and Henry Lau- 
rens were appointed Commissioners on the part 
of the United States, and Mr. Oswald and Mr. 
Fitzherbert on the part of Great Britain. The 
preliminary Articles of Peace were signed at 
Paris on the 30th of November. This treaty 
could not be final until the English and French 



c/. VI /•: X. \ 1. 1 L NO TE S. 67 

had concluded a separate treat}'. In January 
of the next year, 1783, France and Great Britain 
agreed on terms of peace. Everything, how- 
ever, was not finally arranged until September 3, 
1783, when a definitive treaty was signed by all 
the nations which had taken part in the war ; 
by England on one side, and France, Spain, 
Holland, and the United States on the other. 
On the 25th of November the British departed 
from New York, and on the 4th of December, 
Washington made his farewell address to the 
army, and then left for Annapolis, to resign his 
commission to Congress, which was assembled 
there. 



CHAPTER VI. 

RESULT OF THE REVOLUTION — THE PROGRESS OF THE COUNTRY. 

RESULT OF THE REVOLUTION. 

" Of all the contests of modern times, the 
American Revolution was the most glorious in its 
principles, its actions, and its results. No great 
and brilliant victories, like those of Napoleon 
and Wellington, crowned the arms of our 
countrymen ; but, when all circumstances are 
duly considered — their inexperience, their pov- 
erty, and the difficulties they had to surmount — 
their success was wonderful, and has been uni- 
versally acknowledged and honored, even by 
their enemies." 

Great Britain gained nothing by the war. It 
cost her one hundred million pounds sterling, 
and fiftv thousand lives, besides depriving the 
(68) 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 69 

nation of the very colonies for whose taxation 
the war was waged. It must be acknowledged 
that the British fought bravely, and persevered 

as long as a shadow of hope remained. They 
were conquered, not by superior strength or 
skill, but by the impediments which nature pre- 
sented, by mistakes of their own, and by the 
invincible will of a nation determined to be 
free. 

The United States gained their independence, 
"a name and a place among the nations of the 
earth," but the war brought with it a long train 
of evils. Dr. Ramsey, of South Carolina, who 
wrote a history of the Revolution just after its 
occurrence, says : " On the whole, the literary, 
political, and military talents of the United 
States have been improved by the Revolution, 
but the moral character is inferior to what it 
." Before the Revolution the people were 
; >;is, sober, honest, and industrious. There 
was comparatively little of merchandising or 
manufactures, and still less of useless speculat- 
ing and downright idleness. An army always 



yo CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

corrupts not only its members, but the society 
which surrounds it. Although the American 
army was made up for the most part .of its own 
citizens, yet it contained many useless and 
vicious men. 

The cause of education suffered greatly dur- 
ing the war. Common schools were not only 
neglected, but in many instances suffered to 
perish. The course of instruction in our col- 
leges was sometimes suspended, and many a 
student became a soldier. A large national 
debt was created, which, with the State debts, 
amounted to seventy millions of dollars. The 
finances of the United States were embarrassed 
and the Government unsettled. Commerce was 
deranged and needed regulating. The imports 
far exceeded the exports. The fisheries were 
broken up, and the country was drained of 
specie. There were troubles arising with various 
European States about navigation and bound- 
aries. The subject of slavery was undecided. 
It was a very trying time in the history of the 
country, and many wise and good men doubted 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 71 

if the country would survive it ; and men 
began to see that a stronger central government 
was necessary. This unsettled state of the 
country led to the necessity of a new organiza- 
tion. Accordingly, a convention of delegates 
was called to meet in the State House of Phila- 
delphia, in order to decide upon a new Consti- 
tution, and make, if possible, a stronger govern- 
ment, without doing harm to the liberties of the 
people.* 

After a long discussion, on September 17, 
1787, the present Constitution was adopted. It 
had still to be accepted by the different States, 
ten of which agreed to it almost immediately, 
while New York, North Carolina, and Rhode 
Island accepted it later. The confederation 
had changed the colonies into independent 
States, and the Union now united these States 
into a single nation. 

THE PR< >GRESS < >F THE C< HJNTRY, 
At the close of the Revolutionary war, the 



* Goodrk ll. 



j 2 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

United States contained a population of little 
less than three millions. This population was 
mainly settled upon the western shore of the 
Atlantic Ocean, for a distance of about one thou- 
sand miles north and south. The extent of the 
settlements inland from the coast may have 
averaged one hundred miles. Nominally, and 
as distinguished from those of other civilized 
nations, the territories of the confederation 
stretched westward to the Mississippi, and 
northward, as now, to the great lakes, giving a 
total area of little more than 800,000 square 
miles. Instead of the original thirteen States, 
with three millions of people, there are now 
thirty-seven States and twelve Territories, with 
a population (in 1870) of more than thirty-eight 
million (38,558,371), and the area, which now 
stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, 
including Alaska, has increased to more than 
three and a half million square miles (3,559,091.) 
The expenditures of the Government, which 
consist of the civil lists and administration, 
Indians, pensions, interest on public debt, pre- 



CEN TEX\ r IA L NO 1 '2 S. 7 3 

miums on purchased bonds, the army and 
navy, is estimated for the year ending June 30, 
1 876, to amount to little more than $272,500,000, 
while the revenue, which comes from customs, 
inland revenue (on whiskey, tobacco, and malt 
liquors), land sales, bank taxes, Pacific Railway, 
fines, consular and other fees, public property 
sold, premium on gold, and miscellaneous 
sources, amounts to §293,000,000. The surplus 
goes to diminish the public debt, which during 
the late Civil war reached the enormous sum 
of three billion dollars, more than one-fifth of 
it having already been paid. 

The Great West of to-day owes its unequalled 
growth and progress, its population, productive- 
ness, and wealth, primarily to the frame rs of the 
Federal Constitution, by which its development 
was rendered possible, but more immediately to 
the sagacity and statesmanship of Jefferson, 
the purchaser of Louisiana; to the genius of 
Fitch and Fulton, the projector and achiever, 
respectively, of steam navigation; to De Witt 
Clinton, the champion of artificial inland navi- 



74 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



gation ; and to Henry Clay, the eminent, elo- 
quent, and efficient champion of the diversifi- 
cation of our national industry through the pro- 
tection of home manufactures.* 

It is unquestionably upon the agriculture of 
the United States that the progress of the 
country depends. Considering America as the 
granary of Europe, agriculture takes its place as 
the most important interest of the country. 
Among our exports, foremost in value stands 
wheat, then cotton, tobacco, pickled pork and 
hams, butter and cheese. 

In 1S70 the entire annual yield of iron ore 
was over three million tons, one-third produced 
by Pennsylvania. There were more than forty- 
five million tons of coal raised, of which Penn- 
sylvania produced three-quarters of the entire 
quantity. The yield of precious metals for that 
year was more than sixty-six million dollars, 
Nevada producing the largest amount and Cali- 
fornia the next. 

The military history of the United States is 

I ELEY. 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. 



75 



as strange as the rapid rise and growth of the 
nation. In 1790 the rank and file of the army 
as fixed by act of Congress amounted to 1,216 
men. In 1861, at the commencement of the 
war of secession, the whole regular force amount- 
ed to only 14,000 men. In April of that year 
the President called out 75,000 volunteers for 
three months; in May, another call for 42,000 
was made ; and in July, Congress authorized two 
calls, for 500,000 each. Finally, it was found 
necessary to introduce the conscription, and the 
total number of men called under arms by the 
( rovernment of the United States between April. 
1 861 , and April, 1865, amounted to 2,752,049. 
If to these be added the 1,100,000 men embodied 
in. the Southern States during the same time, 
the total armed forces reach the enormous num- 
1) r of nearly 4,000,000, drawn from a population 
of only 32,000,000, figures before which the re- 
cent efforts of France and German}' in the war 
of [870-1871 sink into insignificant . 
within three years the whole of th 

peaceably disbanded, and the army 



76 CENTENNIAL NOTES. 

sunk to a nominal strength of only 30,000 
men.* 

At the opening of the war of 18 12, the whole 
naval armament of the United States consisted 
of twenty vessels ; while the British fleet number- 
ed from eight hundred to one thousand ships. 

The present effective force of the navy consists 
of fifty-four unarmed cruisers, seventeen iron- 
clads, two torpedo vessels, and twenty-two 
steam tug-boats, and tenders, mounting five 
hundred and sixty guns. There are one hun- 
dred and forty-seven vessels of all descriptions, 
but many of them are sailing ships, and several 
are unfitted for service. There are also several 
building, five of which are iron-clads. 

Steamboats were first used on the Hudson in 
1807. The first steamboat launched on western 
waters was the " Vesuvius," at Pittsburg, in 
18 1 3, and was built to run between the falls of 
the Ohio and New Orleans. The total number 
of vessels in the United States in 1873, was 
31,684, with a tonnage of 4,468,046. 



' Encyclopedia Britannica." 



CENTENNIAL NOTES. yy 

The growth of the railway system dates from 
1827, when the first line was opened for tr 
at Ouincey, Massachusetts. The extent of 
railways in 1873 was 59,549 miles, and the 
amount of capital invested was estimated at 
$3,500,000,000. 

The greatest triumphs achieved by the United 
States have been, thus far, in the direction of 
mechanical ingenuity; and American literature, 
science, and art have not yet won the applause 
of the world quite so thoroughly as have Amer- 
ican sewing-machines and agricultural imple- 
ments. Yet the poetry of Bryant, Whittier, and 
Longfellow ; the prose of Irving, Hawthorne, 
and Emerson ; the scientific discoveries of 
Franklin, Morse, and Morton; the paintings of 
Copley, Allston, and Page; the sculptures of 
Powers, Story, and Harriet Hosmer, have ob- 
tained great and permanent reputation. The 
spread of popular instruction in America is very 
wide, higher education is on the increase, and 
there is no reason why the United States should 
1 ■ more and more the chosen home of 



78 CEXTEXNIAL NOTES. 

literature, science, and art, as well as of mechan- 
ical ingenuity and business skill." 

" In point of intelligence, energy, and internal 
resources, this nation acknowledges no superior 
in the world, and it should be the endeavor, as 
well as the pride, of every citizen, not only to 
maintain this high position, but also to promote 
still further progress in all the ennobling sciences 
and arts of civilization." 



* HlGGINSON. 



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